A Short History of the Parks Tax
The “parks” tax began in 1991 as a Lighting and Landscape assessment, imposed by the City without voter approval, to fix a projected one-time budget deficit. Upon passage of Prop 218, the City was forced to seek voter approval, and in 1997, Davis voters soundly defeated the re-named “parks” tax.
In response, the City formed a Citizens Budget Committee which studied the issue in great detail, and agreed to a temporary 4- year, $49 per year parcel tax with the condition that the City use that time to develop a sustainable fiscal plan, including re-internalization of the entire parks budget into the General Fund, and permanently end this tax. In 1998, voters approved that “temporary” $49 per year tax.
In 2001, the voters rejected a ballot measure that would have increased the rate and changed the conditions of this tax, but in 2002, agreed to another four-year extension at the existing rate on the condition that this tax would permanently end in four years. When voters approved the tax in 2002, we were promised that the City would use the next four years to find ways to eliminate this tax through a thorough fiscal review and planning process to identify alternative revenue sources.
In 2004, Davis voters were asked to approve the ˝ cent sales tax increase. We approved that tax which could easily replace the “parks” tax. Yet the City is once again threatening to cut essential services unless we extend the “parks” tax for six more years.
The proponents complain that this tax covers only 24% of park maintenance and that the City is using more General Fund money to cover costs. But this was the whole point of the Budget Committee’s recommendation. The City was supposed to re-internalize 100% of the parks budget into the General Fund.
We have been patient, trusting and supportive. But after eight years of threats and broken promises, we cannot accept 6 more years of this unfair and unnecessary tax.
Please join us by voting NO on Measure G.
|
